Officer’s Termination for Hit-and-Run Upheld

A state Court of Appeals has upheld the termination of a South Pasadena police officer fired for his involvement in a hit-and-run incident.

In a ruling handed down this week, the appeals court affirmed a Los Angeles Superior Court judge’s ruling that City Manager Sean Joyce’s decision to terminate Officer Scott Ziegler was proper.

Ziegler, who pleaded no contest to misdemeanor hit-and-run, was fired in October 1997 after The Times reported allegations that police officers covered up the September 1995 crash while he was off duty.

In upholding the lower court ruling, the Court of Appeals stated: “Ziegler was engaged in criminal conduct when he fled the scene of the accident. He also lied during the investigation of the hit-and-run. Such conduct shows a lack of credibility and honesty, a breach of trust, and extremely poor judgment. It justifies termination.”